Beatles 50th Blog posts of '2013' 'January'

The Beatles' 3rd appearance on "The Friday Spectacular" at the EMI House in London. Broadcast by Radio Luxembourg, chatting to series Hosts, Shaw Taylor and Muriel Young. The show was recorded before a live audience of 100 teenagers listening to 'Please Please Me' and 'Ask Me Why'. Tony Barrow referred to this appearance in the sleevenote for the Beatle's soon to be recorded debut album, 'Please Please Me'.

Every ticket for the Majestic dance was sold in advance, much to the disappointment of an extra 500 fans outside the venue. The Cavern Club, Liverpool at lunchtime and the Majestic Ballroom, in Birkenhead in the evening.

A Manchester booking for the Beatles, appearing live on the Granada Television Show "People & Places" and then recording a BBC radio appearance for "Here we go". This all happened at Studio 4, Granada TV Center, & Playhouse Theatre in Manchester.

Their schedule was first a rehearsal in Studio 4 at the Center

Rehearsal at the Playhouse Theatre for the BBC

Then back to Granada for a live transmission of "People & Places", miming to "Ask me why" and "Please Please Me"

Finally, recording of "Here we Go" at the Playhouse, for broadcast on the BBC Light Program.

This was the Beatles' most important television appearance to date, a taping for the very popular "Thank your lucky stars". Most of Britain's teenage population viewed this weekly program, in which top acts of the day mimed to their latest record releases. For most viewers, it was their first sight of the Beatles.

"Thank your lucky stars" was made by ABC Television, the ITV franchise supplying weekend programming for the Midlands and the north. This day's taping took place at Alpha Television Studios in Birmingham, jointly owned by ABC and ATV. At the bottom of the 7 act bill, the Beatles performed "Please Please Me", closing the first half of the program during the 5:50 and 6:30 pm broadcast on January 19.

Lunchtime it was at the Cavern Club, of course in Liverpool. Then the Beatles made the hazardous afternoon journey south from Liverpool to Old Hill, blizzards made them unable to drive the 11 miles to King's Hearth at the Ritz Ballroom on York Rd. for the 2nd part of a double booking in the Midlands. It was the coldest night in the area for 7 years. The King's Hearth date was re-arranged for mid-February. Birmingham, Warwickshire was postponed.